Prolactin increases CD4/CD8 cell ratio in thymus-grafted congenitally athymic nude mice.

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1996. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Prolactin increases CD4/CD8 cell ratio in thymus-grafted congenitally athymic nude mice.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1996 Apr 30;93(9):4165-9. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/96210611
Gaufo GO; Diamond MC; Group in Endocrinology, University of California, Berkeley; 94720-3140, USA.

Abstract: One distinctive effect on T-cell development was analyzed by selectively increasing serum prolactin (PRL) concentration in thymus-grafted congenitally athymic nude mice and by neutralizing PRL in suspension cultures of thymus from 1-day-old neonatal mice. Flow cytometric analysis of single-positive CD4+ and CD8+ cells derived from inguinal lymph nodes revealed a CD4/CD8 cell ratio of 2.2 +/- 0.18 (mean +/- SEM) in thymus-grafted nude mice that is similar to the ratio for immune-competent BALB/c mice (2.0 +/- 0.06). Addition of the pituitary to thymus-grafted nude mice significantly elevated serum PRL (P < 0.005) and increased the CD4/CD8 cell ratio (2.8 +/- 0.12; P < 0.005), demonstrating preferential stimulation of CD4+ cell development. T cells in nude mice receiving sham (submandibular salivary gland) or pituitary grafts alone were below detectable levels. Suspension cultures of neonatal thymus treated with anti-mouse PRL antiserum resulted in 20% and 30% decreases in double-positive CD4+8+ thymocytes and thymocyte viability, respectively. A 10-fold increase in double-negative CD4-8- thymocytes expressing the interleukin 2 receptor alpha chain, CD25, was also observed concurrently. Our findings illustrate an important way in which PRL may participate in two interrelated mechanisms: the regulation of peripheral single-positive cells and the maintenance of thymocyte viability during the double-positive stage of intrathymic differentiation.

Keywords: Analysis of Variance Animal Animals, Newborn Cells, Cultured *CD4-CD8 Ratio CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/IMMUNOLOGY CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/IMMUNOLOGY Flow Cytometry Mice Mice, Inbred BALB C Mice, Nude Pituitary Gland/*PHYSIOLOGY/*TRANSPLANTATION Prolactin/BLOOD/DRUG EFFECTS/*PHYSIOLOGY Support, Non-U.S. Gov't T-Lymphocytes/DRUG EFFECTS/IMMUNOLOGY Thymus Gland/*PHYSIOLOGY/*TRANSPLANTATION Transplantation, Isogeneic JOURNAL ARTICLE
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M9690890

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